Alx's P.O.V.
I start to breathe heavy. I need to calm down. I don't want to. But I need to. Poison. Fucking poison. They tried to kill her. They tried to kill her right in front of me. Closing my eyes as I fight Eric. He's howling to be let loose. I hold him back. But with every second that passes my reasons to, seem to fade away. Grinding my teeth. A hair away from losing it.
"Alx."
I turn my head to voice. Opening my eyes. Shayla. She said my name. Reminding me why I can't lose it. I need to stay in control around her.
Shock placed on her face for only a moment. Looking me dead in the eyes. My eyes. They must be red.
"Please don't." pleading for me not to do anything.
Like hell, I won't. I growl at her. A quiet growl. Not one of warning. Not one of anger towards her. One telling her that this can not and will not be ignored. She doesn't say a word. Just moves further away from me. Making me growl again, stopping her.
"Alpha, what the hell is going on." Chris, noticing that I am very close to my baking point.
"Waitress." I called in an angered tone.
Running to our table, she holds her head down in submission.
"Who made her made her food?" I just manage to ask.
"Jo himself prepared all your meals, Alpha." Keeping her head down.
"Bring him to me." I instruct her but she doesn't move. "Now." Letting more anger out in my tone.
She runs away. Shayla gives me another death stare. Earning another growl from me. She bites her tongue, no doubt wanting to say something. But being wise not to. Still not knowing what's going on, giving us conserved looks, Chris takes a chip from Shayla's plate.
"Don't" she warns, grabbing his hand just in the nick of time.
He was about to growl at her. But I growl at him warning him not to. With Jo now standing at our table, I growl at him. Jo nods his head in submission, pretending not to know what's going on. Making me growl yet again. He lifts his head.
"Another cheese and tomato. If it comes back poisoned. It will be your head. This is my first and last warning." This time Eric growls at him, as I give him Shayla's plate. His eyes widen out of fear. Shayla's eyes widen too. But her eyes are wide out of anger and shock.
"That really isn't necessary." Shayla, defending him.
I growl t her. Why is she defending him? And why the hell is he still here. I growl at him my eyes never leaving Shayla. The sound of his hurried pace ensuring that he has finally left. The coward.
"You're not going to kill him." She stats more then asks. Being a little shocked doesn't seem to stop her. I growl at her. I can and I will.
"He tried to fucking kill you, Shayla. Yet here you are defending him. Why?" Chris asks almost as angered as I am. Everyone is wondering the same thing; myself included.
"Think about it. Werewolves and humans don't have the best of history. If someone comes to your home, and you think that they are a threat. It is only natural to want to eliminate that threat. If I was in his position, I would do the same." Shayla, explains.
"No, you wouldn't." Chris angered.
"Yea, I would."
"No, Shayla, you wouldn't. You're not cowardice enough to use poison." Chris stats, ensuring that everyone heard him.
Sighing, she starts talking in another language. A shocked look takes place on Chris' face for a moment being replaced with his angered one.
"No. You're not a coward. I know you well. Might not know you as well as I did five years ago. But you are still the same. You are not a coward. I don't think you have it in you to be a coward. Yes, you would protect your family, but you would never use poison. You would use you're fists, even if it meant dying. *Sigh* Something I both admire and hate about you."
She doesn't move. Doesn't say a word. Looking down, her eyes seem empty. She stays like this for a moment.
"Would you do the same?" her voice just louder than a whisper.
I can feel the waves of sadness coming from her. What was left of my anger dissipates. Replaced with that want to comfort her and knowing that I can't.
"I would." Chris nodding his head, playing with the salt and pepper bottles.
Speaking in that language again, her voice even quieter. Whatever she said made Chris look up at her.
"How?" he asks in a worried tone.
She just shakes her head, not wanting to answer.
"Shayla."
She gives him a sad smile and shakes her head again.
"You're not going to be able to do that forever, Shayla." Chris informs her.
"I know." Shayla replies. Leaning into the chair, looking out the window and zones out. Like one would on a long car ride.
Jo returns with Shayla's food. Zoning back in, Shayla's face return to what I would call a neutral expression. Jo's about to hand her the plate of food, but I grab his hand with a firm grip. Taking the plate from him I place it in front of me. He knows not to leave without my permission. So, he won't. Meaning I can kill him right on the spot if I need to. Bring the food to my nose I inhale deeply. Nothing. Taking a chip, I dip it in the sauce and eat it. Nothing. Cutting an eighth off the burger, I eat it. Nothing. Good nothing is poisoned. Handing the plate to Shayla, I turn my head to Jo. he's still standing in the same spot, sweating like a pig.
"Leave, before I change my mind." And that was all it took; he was off in a hurry. "Eat it. It's not poisoned." I inform Shayla.
"And if it was?" she asks.
Her question keeping me calm. She cares. It might not be as hard as I first thought. Hiding my smile, I answer her question. "First I would kill him. Then I would go to the doc and get some sort of antidote. If needed."
"Then why not just let me eat it?"
I grit my teeth.
"It most certainly would have killed you. He wouldn't waste his time on something that wouldn't kill you. You're human. I'm a werewolf and an Alpha at that."
"So, you being an Alpha makes you immune to poison?" Not believing me.
"Most. Not all."
She just gives me a frustrated look.
"Even still. Why kill him? I'm nothing a but a stranger to you."
We are strangers, yes. As much as I hate it. But that's not all you are to me. We are strangers but not forever.
"I have my reasons. Now eat." Nodding to her plate.
She starts to eat without protest. Probably had enough for one day. My eyes are glued to her; making sure that she finishes it.
"Shayla?" Chris asks, coursing her to stop eating.
"Eat."
She just points her finger at Chris.
"Whatever you want to ask her can wait." Telling him to shut up. Earning me a questioned look.
Seeing that Shayla had finished, I get up to pay the bill. Shayla's about to say something. Protest me paying I believe. Why.
"Yea, Shayla, that's not going to work on him." He informed her with a laugh.
She just rolled her eyes.
-
Now back at Chris' house, he opens the door. Allowing Shayla to enter first, I walk in behind her. Gaining me yet another questioned look from Chris. I pretend not to have noticed. Shayla sits in the middle of the couch. Chris sits on her left. And I sit on her right.
"Well, today was eventful." Chris switching on the TV.
Shayla huffs a laugh in agreement, sinking further into the couch. Chris puts on a murder mystery.
"Really." I ask.
"We might as well."
Shayla sits up a little straighter to pay attention; knowing that she'll need to. So, we watch the movie. With all it's twists and turns. When the main detective solves how and why the victim was killed. Shayla speaks.
"You weren't actually going to kill him, were you?" she asks in a very serious voice.
She's not going to like my answer.
"I would have. I would have killed him right there and then." I state truthfully.
She doesn't say a word.
"If he didn't, I would have." Chris states, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"Why?" is all she says. Chris doesn't answer knowing that it wasn't meant for him.
"Because." I answer, knowing full well that it wasn't one. Eric growls at me; demanding me to tell her. I ignore him. Shayla sighs and focuses on the movie again. Not what I was expecting.
"It's not nice tasting your own medicine, now is it?" Chris asks. She gives no reply.
-
Two murder mysteries down. Shayla is struggling to stay awake. Again, Chris is too involved with the movie to notice. And I've bee paying too much attention to Shayla to know what's going on in the movie. Losing the battle, Shayla's head falls on my shoulder. I can feel the faint sparks. That must be luck.
'It's not luck.'
'Shut up, let me enjoy this.'
'It's not luck. The bond will draw her to you. Like it draws you to her.'
'You don't even know that she feels the bond.'
'She does.'
'You don't know that.'
'Even if she didn't, the bond will still pull her to you.'
'How are you so sure?'
'Think.' Making me remember that day I visited her in the hospital. Her voice loud and clear, '... I need to be here. I don't know why or for how long. I just need to be here.'
'The bond can't affect you if you've never met your mate.'
'It can. We just don't feel it.'
'Impossible'
'Not all mates find each other by chance. Some need a little help.'
Feeling movement, I end our conversation. Finding Chris about to wake Shayla up. I don't want her to wake up. I want to stay like this as long as possible. I shake my head; telling him to leave her. He gives me a puzzled look.
'It's fine. I don't mind.' I mind-link him so as not to wake her up. Chris returns to his original position, putting on another movie.
'Chris?'
'Yes?'
'What did Shayla say before?'
'Do you really want to know?' stopping the movie.
'Yes.'
'The first time she spoke she said, 'I wish I was the person you believe me to be brother'. The second time she spoke she said, 'well then brother I have failed'. Doesn't make a lot of sense even when it's in English.'
'No, it doesn't.' finding myself thinking about what she could have meant. 'Chris. She's not ok.'
'I know. She's just putting on a mask to make me feel better.'
'And let me guess. You're doing the same for her.'
'Yep.' He confirms, playing the movie.
'How long are you going to play along with this game of hers?' I ask knowing that they can't keep avoiding whatever it is forever.
Chris turns his head to look me in the eyes. 'As long as she needs me to.' Now looking at his sister. Worry claiming the entirety of his being. Freely showing it.
I worry about her too. But I can't show it. Not yet anyway.
'How long are you going to wait?' Eric almost growling again.
'I will wait until she's ready. I don't think it's the best idea telling her that she's my mate right now. Especially when she's still got something going that we still don't know anything about. I don't care how long it takes. I will wait.'
'Now you're lying to yourself. We can't stay away from her. It will start to affect us. You are playing a dangerous game.'
'But I can't just do that to her.'
He growls again.
'If I told you that being around her will help her heal would you...'
'So, just being around her can help her heal.' Cutting Eric off.
'Yes.'
'I thought that was just a myth.'
'It's true. Being in each other's presence helps healing, but only by a little. Adding physical contact betters the effect.'
'Physical contact. Like right now?' looking down at my shoulder where Shayla's still sleeping. 'I'm healing her?' smiling freely knowing that Chris is paying too much attention to whatever he's watching to notice.
'Minimal, but yes you are healing her. If her head was on your lap and you were stroking her hair, she would heal faster. If you were hugging her, she would heal faster still. And even faster if you were kissing her. And even more so if you...'
'Don't even say it. I get the picture.' Cutting him off again.
Feeling the couch move, I end our conversation again. Chris better not be trying to wake her up again.
"Alx are you ok?" Chris asks probably wondering why I've been zoned out for so long.
'Yea, I'm fine. Just talking to Eric.' I reply through mind-link reminding him to be quiet.
'About?'
I don't answer him.
'Why have you been so strangely lately?'
'Secret.'
'Does this secret have anything to do with Shayla'
'Yes.'
'Are you ever going to tell me?'
'Yes, but not any time soon.'
'This better not be putting her in harm's way, Alx.' Still trying to protect his sister from me.
I didn't handle this the best of ways last time. I'll try to handle it better this time.
'Chris. No harm will come to Shayla. You have my word on that.'
'You can't make a promise like that. No matter how much you believe that. Or how much I want to. There are things that you have no control over.' Chris referring to when I'm not me.
'Chris. We can not hurt her. Can not.' Allowing Eric to come out a little. But not too much.
'And why is that?'
'Secret.' Taking back all control. Eric grows at me.
'Alx. She's my sister. If you know something, you need to tell me.'
'It's nothing that you need to worry about.'
'Couldn't care less about your rank, Alx.' Leaving it at that; saying all he needs to. And returns his attention to the screen
I know. As much as Eric might dislike it. I don't want it any other way. I earned his respect. Like he earned mine. And like I will have to earn hers.
-
Chris has been asleep for a while now. What time is it? Taking out my phone slowly so, I don't wake either of them up. It's 11:45. Should probably go. Don't want to. But should. First, I'll take Shayla to her room. I doubt that they like to share the couch. And I don't think it would do her any good. She needs to sleep. Then I'll go. I slowly move off the couch, holding Shayla's head stopping her from falling. Being very careful, I pick Shayla up bridal style. Only fitting. A smile coming to my face, I carry her to her room. She looks peaceful. I lay her down in her bed. Her face scrunches up in pain, rolling onto her side. Her shirt lifted just a little, enough for me to see her wounds. Swollen and red. I lift her shirt up a little further, exposing more of them. The deeper cuts still bleeding, wrapped in bandages. Others not much better. Setting me off
Shit. I need to calm down.
'Smell her scent.' He too becoming angered.
'Eric!'
'Do it!'
Leaning down by her neck, I take a deep breath in. Calming me instantly. Still mad. But no longer in the state where I want to rip heads off. Sitting down next to her, I stroke her hair. Easing her pain.
'Lay down next to her.'
'Eric.'
'What? You're alone. I don't see what the issue is.'
'It's creepy and it could wake her up.'
'It's not creepy'
'It is.'
'Well, I wouldn't mind kissing her. It would only take a moment with me in control.'
'Eric!!' I warn him. He just laughs.
'You won't wake her up. She too exhausted. And her boy knows it needs to heal.'
'Even still. I would fall asleep. That's not exactly something I want to explain to Chris.'
'She's our mate.'
'Eric.'
'Fine, I wake you well before he does.'
'How will you manage that?'
'That is for me to know, and you to find out.'
'I'm still not going to do it.' Looking down at Shayla, still stroking her hair.
'Do it. Or I'll make you.'
'Leave me be, Eric.' Continuing to stroke her hair. This is the first time I've had to freely look at her. And the first time where she hasn't been trying to hide anything from me. She's just simply sleeping. The first time that she isn't hiding. I wish she could be like this around me all the time.
'She would if you told her.'
'Now I am 100% certain that you don't know that.'
He shuts up. I called his bluff.
I wish I could stay here forever. Stroking Shayla's hair. I need to leave. But I'll stay a little longer. The longer I stay the more she heals. Leaning on the headboard, I close my eyes. Still stroking her hair. I try to open my eyes again, they're just too heavy.